Star Anise Extract Shikimic Acid Powder

Healthkintai^® is a manufacturer and supplier of star anise extract shikimic acid . Star anise shikimic acid extract is a natural active ingredient powder refined from the traditional spice star anise (Illicium verum) using modern extraction technology. It typically appears as a high-purity white fine powder. Its core component, shikimic acid (CAS No. 138-59-0), is a key plant metabolite with the molecular formula C₇H₁₀O₅. This extract possesses a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and platelet aggregation inhibition. Therefore, it is often used as a synthetic intermediate for anti-tumor drugs in the pharmaceutical industry and is also used in the cosmetics field to develop functional products for oil control, acne treatment, and regulating the skin's microecology. Buy star anise extract shikimic acid powder, contact us at info@kintaibio.com.

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Our shikimic acid raw material is carefully selected from star anise grown in Guangxi Province in southwestern China. Guangxi is the world's core star anise producing region, accounting for over 90% of China's total output. Abundant raw material reserves ensure that large-scale, continuous industrial extraction is unaffected by seasonal fluctuations, resulting in extremely high supply chain stability. Its unique subtropical climate and hilly terrain nurture high-quality star anise with a naturally high shikimic acid content in its fruit. Furthermore, leveraging Guangxi's mature spice cultivation base, rapid processing from harvesting to processing can be achieved, minimizing the loss of active ingredients and resulting in high-quality extracts with pure color and few impurities.

Raw Material Pretreatment

Dried star anise fruits from Guangxi are selected. First, impurities are removed, and then the cleaned star anise is fed into a coarse crusher to be pulverized into a uniform coarse powder of 20-40 mesh, significantly improving the dissolution efficiency of shikimic acid and volatile oil. The pulverized raw material must be promptly fed into the next process.

Volatile Oil Separation

The coarse star anise powder is loaded into a stainless steel distillation vessel, and stable saturated steam is introduced for atmospheric distillation for 4-6 hours. The distilled vapor is cooled by a condenser to form an oil-water mixture, which flows into an oil-water separator. The lower layer of aromatic water and the remaining solid residue in the vessel retain the shikimic acid component and are directly used for the next extraction step.

Shikimic Acid Crude Extraction

8-10 times the mass of deionized water is added to the distillation residue, and the pH is adjusted to a slightly alkaline environment of 7.0-8.0 with dilute alkali solution. Reflux extraction is performed at 80-90℃ for 1-2 hours. After extraction, the extract and residue are separated using a plate and frame filter press. To improve the overall extraction rate, the residue was extracted 2-3 times under the same conditions, and the extracts from each extraction were combined.

Decolorization and Preliminary Purification

0.5%-1% (w/v) of powdered activated carbon was added to the combined crude extract to change the solution color from dark brown to light yellow. After decolorization, the solution was passed through a precision filter or plate and frame filter while hot to remove activated carbon and suspended particles, obtaining a clear and transparent filtrate, creating favorable conditions for subsequent chromatographic purification.

Ion Exchange Chromatography

The decolorized filtrate was passed through a pre-treated anion exchange resin column at a flow rate of 1-2 column volumes/hour. After adsorption saturation, the resin column was first rinsed with deionized water to remove residual impurities, and then eluted with 0.1-0.2 mol/L sodium hydroxide solution to displace shikimic acid from the resin. The elution peak with higher shikimic acid content was collected.

Concentration and Crystallization

The collected shikimic acid eluate was transferred to a rotary evaporator or vacuum distillation tank for concentration under reduced pressure. After the concentrated solution cools to room temperature, slowly add 1-2 times its volume of anhydrous methanol as the crystallization solvent. Let it stand for crystallization for 12-24 hours. Shikimic acid gradually precipitates out as white needle-like or plate-like crystals.

Recrystallization Purification

Dissolve the crude crystals obtained in step 6 with a small amount of hot methanol-water mixtureuntil clear. Since the crude crystals may contain small amounts of resin fragments or pigment impurities, filter them while hot through a 0.45-micron filter membrane or sintered glass funnel. Slowly cool the filtrate to room temperature and allow it to recrystallize again in a low-temperature environment. One or two recrystallization processes can effectively remove residual impurities trapped in the crystal lattice, increasing the purity of shikimic acid to over 98%, meeting pharmaceutical-grade raw material standards.

Drying and Pulverizing

Place the wet crystals obtained after recrystallization into a vacuum drying oven. Pulverize the dried block crystals to the required fineness (80 mesh) using a ball mill or air jet mill. Store in a cool, dry place; this is the finished shikimic acid extract.

Shikimic acid is a readily soluble organic acid, with a solubility of approximately 150-180 g/L in water at room temperature, meaning 15-18 grams can dissolve in 100 mL of water. Due to this excellent water solubility, water is commonly used as the primary solvent for extraction in industrial production. Among organic solvents, shikimic acid is slightly soluble in methanol and ethanol, but almost insoluble in nonpolar or weakly polar solvents such as chloroform, benzene, petroleum ether, and n-heptane. 

Notably, the extremely low solubility of shikimic acid in ethanol makes it an effective antisolvent in crystallization processes. Adding ethanol to a concentrated aqueous solution reduces the solubility of shikimic acid, thereby promoting efficient crystallization. Furthermore, it also exhibits good solubility in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), with a solubility of approximately 35 mg/mL.

shikimic acid for skin

Shikimic acid is a highly effective yet gentle exfoliant in skincare. At a concentration of 5%, it achieves a skin-renewing effect comparable to 50% glycolic acid, but without causing skin irritation or peeling, making it particularly suitable for sensitive skin. Secondly, it has significant skin-brightening capabilities, improving skin tone. Studies have shown that shikimic acid can activate the SIRT1 protein, protecting skin cells from UV-induced photoaging and aging, maintaining cell health. It can also reduce excessive sebum secretion by regulating 5α-reductase activity and possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an ideal functional ingredient for improving acne, dandruff, and controlling body odor.

shikimic acid for Reduce body odor

Shikimic acid demonstrates unique and effective application value in deodorizing products. Its deodorizing mechanism is not simply masking fragrance, but rather fundamentally inhibiting the production of body odor. Shikimic acid possesses significant antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting the excessive proliferation of odor-producing bacteria. More importantly, it can act as a natural enzyme inhibitor, blocking these microorganisms' ability to synthesize essential growth substances, reducing odor generation at its biological source. Shikimic acid does not interfere with normal perspiration physiology; instead, it achieves a long-lasting and safe deodorizing effect by inhibiting bacterial metabolism, and is gentle and non-irritating.

shikimic acid for hair

Shikimic acid bulk improves the scalp microenvironment and regulates sebum secretion in hair and scalp care. By inhibiting the activity of 5α-reductase, shikimic acid effectively reduces the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), thereby alleviating androgenetic alopecia and regulating overactive sebaceous glands, helping to solve oily scalp and seborrheic dermatitis problems. Simultaneously, it inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as Malassezia that cause dandruff and itching. It promotes normal metabolism of scalp keratinocytes, unclogs hair follicles blocked by oil and dead skin cells, and creates a healthy and clean environment for hair growth.

star anise extract shikimic acid supplements

In the health supplement industry, shikimic acid is primarily developed into various dietary supplements, utilizing its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Common products include immune-support capsules or tablets; anti-inflammatory formula supplements to help alleviate chronic inflammation; and compound gut health products, such as those combining shikimic acid with prebiotics to maintain digestive health. In addition, there are functional solid beverages and health food additives containing shikimic acid, as well as metabolic regulation supplements formulated with other natural ingredients to support cellular health and energy metabolism.

shikimic acid in skincare

Buy shikimic acid powder is widely used in various types of skincare products due to its versatility. In cleansers, it gently removes dead skin cells and improves clogged pores. Toners and shikimic acid serum are its most common applications.when combined with niacinamide or vitamin C derivatives, it can provide synergistic whitening and anti-inflammatory effects. Masks provide short-term intensive care, utilizing shikimic acid's exfoliating properties to brighten skin tone and improve roughness. In lotions and creams, shikimic acid primarily functions as an antioxidant and helps delay photoaging, making it suitable for daily use on mature skin.

shikimic acid deodorant

The application of shikimic acid in antiperspirant and deodorant products is already well-established in the market, with mature commercial applications such as roll-on, spray, or cream formulations that eliminate body odor through enzyme inhibition and selective antibacterial action. Furthermore, unlike traditional aluminum-based antiperspirants that inhibit perspiration by blocking sweat glands, shikimic acid does not interfere with normal thermoregulation and is a gentle, safe, and natural deodorant solution. It has been incorporated into numerous aluminum-free, natural formula products, providing long-lasting odor protection.

Based on existing toxicological data, star anise extract shikimic acid exhibits a high safety profile at conventional doses. No genotoxicity was found in in vitro or in vivo studies, and its carcinogenicity is classified as low risk. However, a slight increase in neutrophil and eosinophil counts was observed at high-dose exposure, suggesting a possible low-grade inflammatory response. Furthermore, this compound is somewhat irritating; high concentrations of the raw powder may cause eye and skin irritation. In cosmetic applications, shikimic acid is not on the EWG's list of restricted or unacceptable ingredients, and no sensitization or developmental/reproductive toxicity issues have been identified. Overall, shikimic acid has a favorable safety profile within the recommended concentration range.

Choose our shikimic acid powder. Our product uses star anise from Guangxi, China, as its sole raw material. Leveraging mature industrial extraction technology, we can reliably supply pharmaceutical-grade shikimic acid powder with a purity of ≥98%, exhibiting excellent batch-to-batch consistency. Simultaneously, we strictly control the separation process of byproducts such as star anise oil, ensuring that our shikimic acid products are free of organic solvent residues and pesticide residue exceeding standards. Whether used in antiviral drug synthesis, functional skincare product development, or natural deodorant formulations, our products offer superior solubility, stability, and reliable safety data, and can be customized with different mesh sizes and packaging specifications to meet customer needs. Buy star anise extract shikimic acid powder, contact us at info@kintaibio.com.

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